Community Corner

Report: New Witness Disputes Giordano's Story

In Aruba case, a witness is reporting Gary Giordano and missing North Bethesda woman didn't go snorkeling, ABC News reports.

As Aruban authorities launched an extensive search Monday for evidence in the case of a new witness has come forward disputing her traveling companion’s story that Gardner disappeared while snorkeling, reports ABC News.

Gardner’s traveling companion, 50-year-old, is beingin connection with her disappearance. Gardner, 35, was last seen in Aruba Aug. 2, when Giordano reported to Aruban authorities that she had been swept out to sea while the two were snorkeling. Since then,allegations of domestic violence have surfaced against Giordano, and people close to Gardner, including her boyfriend Richard Forester, have raised doubts about Giordano’s story.

Giordano has maintained his innocence and has not been charged with a crime.

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New details in the case emerged last week as ABC News reported Giordano had taken out a $1.5 million insurance policy on Gardner before their trip, and the AP reported Giordano attempted to cash in on the policy days after he reported Gardner missing.

PEOPLE Magazine also reported last week that explicit photos of Gardner had been discovered on Giordano’s camera. And in another development, ABC News reported Sunday that a new witness is reporting to authorities he saw Gardner and Giordano walking on the beach where Giordano told authorities the two had been snorkeling. But according to the witness, Gardner and Giordano never entered the water. Rather, they drove away, the witness said, according to ABC.

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The search underway Monday aims to find Garnder’s remains – Aruban authorities have said she is presumed dead – or any other evidence that could shed light on her disappearance. 


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